Content Editor in Canvas

Here you will find an overview of Content Editor in Canvas. It has a compact toolbar that groups icons and functions. The functions are explained and can be accessed using the menu tabs above the toolbar. Below you will find an overview of the various functions and the way they work.

Overview of the Content Editor

1. Format the text using the heading levels under the Paragraph tool. Paragraph = body. Note: do not change the text size manually.
2. Format the text with bold, italic and underlined text. Note: Be careful about changing the colour of the text as this can reduce contrast and readability. Keep in mind that not everyone sees colour.
3. Create superscript or subscript text and numbers: for example, x^2x
4. Insert external or internal links or remove an existing link using the arrow. See more under the heading Insert > 1. Link.
5. Insert an existing image or upload a new one. See more under the heading Insert > 2. Image.
6. Insert, upload or record a video. See more under the heading Insert > 3. Media.
7. Insert an existing document or upload a new one. See more under the heading Insert > 4. Document.
8. Embed a movie from My media and Media gallery. 
9. Right-align, left-align or centre your text and images.
10. Use bulleted lists to structure your content and create texts that are easier to read.
11. Increase or decrease indentation in the text.
12. Clear the formatting of text. If you paste text from, for example, a word document, you use this function.
13. Create a table that has cells.
14. Insert an equation.
15. Embed a movie with the embed code from, for example, Play.

Edit

Using Edit in the menu, you can choose to undo previous steps, cut, copy and paste text, and select everything in the content field. On the right, you can find the shortcut to the respective action directly from your keyboard.

Insert

More information can be found above under Overview of Content Editor.

1. Link

1.1 Insert external link

If you want to insert an external link, provide the name of the link in the Text box and paste the URL in the Link box. Click on Done when you are finished.

1.2 Add a Link to a Course

If you are going to add an internal course link, a window will appear where you can navigate and choose from the different components of the course. If you want to search for a specific page or document, type the name in the search box and click Enter.  If you want to link to a file, select Files from the drop-down list at the top.

2. Image

2.1 Upload an Image

1. Upload a new image from your computer. 
2. Upload a new image by pasting in the image´s URL.
3. Add a descriptive text of the image in the Alternative text (Alt Text) box: this will be read aloud for those using screen readers or speech synthesis. If the image is simply filler and has no purpose for the content, you can click Decorative Image.
4. Click Submit to upload the image. To edit image properties, select the image and click the Image Options box that appears.
   
   

2.2 Add existing course images and user images

1. Choose whether you want to upload an existing image from Course files or from your account files in Canvas, called user files.
2. If you have many images, you can choose to search by date or free text from among the course files or your user files.

3. Media

3.1 Upload or record new media

1. Upload a short video or audio file from your computer by selecting a file: alternatively, drag and drop the file into the window. Click Submit to upload. To edit video properties, select the video and click the Video Options box that pops up.

2. Record a short video instantly. Remember to save the video. The video is also saved among your course files and can be found in the folder called Uploaded media.
   
   

3.2 Add existing course media or user media

1. Choose whether you want to upload existing media from Course files or from your account files in Canvas, called user files.
2. If you have a lot of uploaded material, you can choose to search by date or free text from among the course files or your user files.

4. Document

4.1 Upload a new document or add an existing course and user files

1. Upload a new document from your computer by selecting a file: alternatively, drag and drop the file into the window. Click Submit to upload.
2. Add an existing document from course or user files.
3. Choose whether you want to upload an existing file from the course files or from your account files in Canvas, called user files.
4. If you have many uploaded documents, you can choose to search by date or free text from among the course files or your user files.

5. Equation

Create equations and insert symbols into your content field using the Equation Editors tool. Click Done when you are finished.

6. Table

Create and insert a table by dragging the mouse over the grid and choosing the number of columns it should have.

Note: Avoid using tables to structure your content. Instead, use heading and text formatting to create structure on your page.

7. Embed

Copy and paste your Embed code. Click Submit to embed it in the content bar.

8. Horizontal Line

Paste a horizontal line to divide and structure the content. See example below. 

Format

In the Format menu, you will find options for formatting your text and content. You can find the same functions using the shortcuts in the toolbar. To clear all formatting, select your text and click Clear formatting.

Tools

1. Check how many words or characters the text has using Word Count. 
2. Embed a movie from Play (Embed media).

Functions in Menu Under Content Editor

1. Keyboard shortcuts to various functions.
2. Check the accessibility of your content using the Accessibility checker.
3. Number of words in the content field.
4. Switch to HTML.
5. View the editor in full screen. Press Escape (Esc) on your keyboard to return.
6. Enlarge or reduce size of Content Editor.